Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her statement yesterday and to the affidavit of then AWU head Ian Cambridge that states around $100,000 from the AWU slush fund was used to purchase a house in Fitzroy in which Bruce Wilson lived. When did the Prime Minister first learn that funds from the AWU Workplace Reform Association were used in the purchase of the Fitzroy property which her then boyfriend Bruce Wilson lived in?

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, I am not sure that this, like the last question, is in the realm of the Prime Minister's discretion. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition would like to argue the toss or rephrase, but I am finding it hard to know why the last two questions are within the area of the Prime Minister's responsibility.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The standing orders—and, in fact, the House of Representatives Practicemake it very clear that ministers and the Prime Minister can be questioned about public statements that they have made. The Prime Minister has held two press conferences on this issue. She has stated on many occasions that she had no wrongdoing at any time with respect to the AWU slush fund. But she has said that, when she became aware of wrongdoing, she ended the relationship with her then boyfriend. That is why it goes within her responsibilities.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I have allowed a great deal of latitude in respect of these issues by virtue of the issue that the Manager of Opposition Business has gone to—that is, that the Prime Minister has made numerous statements. I think these last two questions are going beyond that, and I am ruling them out of order.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Mackellar has the call. This is a very important matter, and I am prepared to listen to argument in respect of it. This would not be allowed under normal circumstances.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Seniors) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Practice makes it quite clear that ministers, which includes the Prime Minister, should be ready and able to answer questions which are reported upon in newspapers and other forms of media. The Prime Minister has deliberately chosen a course of making statements to the media and not answering questions asked in this place. The reason for that is that you can say anything you like to the media and it has no consequences but if in this place you make statements which are misleading there are consequences. Continually we have sat here and listened to the Prime Minister say 'it is sleaze', and whatever it is which she seems to attract. The idea that—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Mackellar will resume her seat before she goes too far and I have to remove her for again abusing points of order. I understand the point the member for Mackellar has raised, but I think these issues have been canvassed, and these areas are outside the responsibility of the Prime Minister in relation to this issue.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, on a point of order: the member for Mackellar during her point of order suggested that the Prime Minister could say whatever she liked to the media and have no consequences for it. That is an extraordinary statement for the member for Mackellar to have—

Mr Secker interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Barker could have asked that of everybody before the Leader of the House got to his feet. The Leader of the House has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is of course political accountability for our actions.

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business was allowed to make his statement without interruption. The Leader of the House has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With regard to your ruling, Speaker, it is absolutely correct, because we have not objected to a range of questions that have been raised by the opposition, although we could have. On these last two questions they have gone too far. They are clearly not within the Prime Minister's responsibilities, and your ruling is correct.